Dispensing device for vending machines



Nov. 22, 1966 A. R. GROSS 3,286,839

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed NOV. 18, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l AR wwwm RQSS A T TOR/V5 Y5 Nov. 22, 1966 A. R. GROSS DISPENSING DEVICE FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed NOV. 18, 1964 0 Z i m 5/ 22 R. Gmoss 35 Z3 29 BY @iiA/ Nov. 22, 1966 A. R. GROSS 7 3,286,880

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 18, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 4 3/ FIG. 5 20 Z zs'zz/ /5 36 a Z B T: M 5 55 5 IN VEN TOP? ARTHUR R. GROSS AT TORNEYS A. R. GROSS DISPENSING DEVICE FOR VENDING MACHINES Nov. 22, 1966 5 Sheets-5heet 4 Filed Nov. 18, 1964 RM R [/v VEN TOR gg ruun R. GROSS My MM A T TO RNE YS A. R. GROSS 3,286,880

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR VENDING NhkCIiIlJlEtS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M ATTORNEYS 1 [NVEN TOR ARTHUR H. Gnoss Nov. 22, 1966 Filed Nov. 18, 1964 United States Patent 3 286,880 DISPENSING DEVICE FOR VENDlNG MACHINES Arthur R. Gross, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Gross- Given Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Nov. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 412,157 7 Claims. (Cl. 221--82) This invention pertains to an improved dispensing device for vending machines and more particularly to an improved and simplified apparatus for selectively dispensing a unit of merchandise from a plurality of stored units with a maximum of reliability.

In prior art devices the dispensing apparatus for vending machines is either extremely complicated or unreliable. In vending machines it is extremely important that each time a unit of merchandise is selected by a customer a unit is received but no more than that unit is dispensed. In order to provide the degree of reliability required and the assurance that merchandise could not be obtained through tampering rather than purchase, prior art devices are extremely complicated mechanisms with a great many moving parts.

Prior art devices also include machines which are strictly mechanical and in which the operator provides the force to actuate the machine. These machines in general are unsatisfactory because they are subject to jamming if the operator does not move the levers far enough and they are subject to excessive wear it the operator moves the levers too far and with too much force. Thus, the present apparatus is actuated by electrical means and the operator simply depresses a buton to obtain the desired merchandise. Because the machine provides its own activation the movement is always uniform and therefore highly reliable and with a minimum of wear.

In the present invention a variety of articles, such as different brands of candy bars, are stored in a plurality of vertical magazines having a dispensing device associated with each one thereof. In one embodiment the magazines each include an endless belt having a plurality of uniformly spaced trays rigidly mounted thereon perpendicular to the belts. Each tray then carries a unit of merchandise which simply slides off the tray as the endless belt moves around a lower pulley and the tray becomes vertical rather than horizontal. -Prior to the unit sliding off the tray the preceding tray engages a pivotally mounted receiving tray which already has the unit from the preceding tray lying thereon. Upon engagement of the preceding tray with the receiving tray that tray is tilted to allow the unit thereon to slide into a chute leading to an externally accessible slot in the front of the machine. As the endless belt rotates the preceding tray is disengaged from the receiving tray and subsequently the unit on the next tray slides onto the receiving tray returning it to its normal position.

In a second embodiment all of the units of merchandise are stacked in vertical piles in the various magazines. At the bottom of the magazine with the vertical pile resting on a solid portion thereof is a slidably mounted tray having an opening therein approximately the size of one unit of merchandise. To dispense a unit the tray is slid from its normal position to a second position in which the bottom unit of the vertical stack drops into the opening in the tray. The tray is then returned to its normal position at which time the vertical stack again rests on the solid portion of the tray and the bottom unit, which was in the opening in the tray, is dropped into a chute that connects to an externally accessible slot.

In both embodiments a carriage mounted for reciprocating motion is operatively connected to motive means, such as an electric motor. Electric switches, such as 3,286,880 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 push buttons, associated with each of the magazines complete an electrical circuit to the electric motor and a connecting means for each of the magazines. The electric motor when energized moves the carriage through a single reciprocation while the connecting means connects the carriage to the dispensing apparatus connected to the magazine associated with the button depressed. As will become apparent from the disclosure the various apparatus is completely reliable and cannot foul or jam.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved vending machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vending machine which is extremely reliable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vending machine having a minimum of moving parts. v

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the figures:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of my dispensing device with,;portions thereof broken away;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section as seen from the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen from the line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 55 in FIG. 2, portions thereof broken away and shown in section;

FIG. -6 i a greatly enlarged view shown in section as seen from the line 66 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of a portion shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged horizontal view in section as seen along the line 8-8 in FIG. 2, portions broken away and shown in section;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views in perspective of a single link and tray;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connecting link and tray;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary detailed view in perspective of a portion of the carriage shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view in elevation as seen generally from the line 13-13 in FIG. 2 illustrating a moditied embodiment of the invention, portions thereof broken away;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 1414 in FIG. 4, portions thereof broken away;

FIG. 15 is a greatly enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 1515 in FIG. 13, portions thereof broken away .and shown in section;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view in section along the line 1616 in FIG. 14, portions thereof broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the irregular line 17-17 in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry.

In FIG. l portions of the machine are broken away so that the subcomponent 20 can be seen. In the present embodiment the subcomponent 20 includes a plurality of magazines 21 through 30 which are utilized to store units of merchandise such as candy bars or the like. Subcomponent 20 is attached to the outer case 31 by means of a pair of hinges 32 and 33 so that the subcomponent is accessible for replenishing with merchandise and/or repairs. Each of the magazines 21 through 30 includes an endless belt having a plurality of trays uniformly spaced thereon and rigidly mounted perpendicular thereto each of which holds a unit of merchandise.

As can be seen in FIGS.9, and 11 the endless belts are comprised of a plurality of links 35 which are somewhat L-shaped with the long arm 36 of the L forming a paddle-shaped tray while the shorter arm 37 is actually a link in the endless belt. Each of the links 35 are constructed with a knuckle 38 on either end of the shorter arm 37 which interlock with a knuckle on the next link. The knuckles of two adjacent links are joined by a pin therethrough and form a pivotal joint so that once all of the links are connected together they form a flexible belt. The two ends of the belt are joined together by a link such as shown in FIG. 11 which is substantially similar to the other links except that the lower knuckle is separate and adapted to be bolted to the upper knuckle and tray assembly.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a left side view and a right side view of the subcomponent respectively. The left end and the right end of a carriage 40, which passes through the subcomponent 20 between the endless belts or magazines 21 through 30 and in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said belts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively. The carriage 40 is slidably mounted in the subcomponent 20 for limited vertical movement. The right end of the carriage 40, shown in FIG. 2, has rigidly attached thereto one end of a vertical connecting member 41. Connect-. ing member 41 has a spring 42 attached between it and the case of the subcomponent 20 which tends to bias the connecting member 41 and the carriage 40 upward. The other end of the connecting member 41 is rotatably attached to one end of a crank arm 43 the other end of which is fixedly attached to a rotatably mounted shaft 44.

The left-hand side of the carriage 40, shown in FIG. 3, is fixedly attached to one end ofa vertical connecting member 45, which is similar to the connecting member 41 and has a spring 46 attached thereto biasing it upward as previously explained for the spring 42. The other end of the connecting member 45 is rotatably attached to one end of a bell crank arrangement composed of a first member 47, which is fixedly attached at its center to the rotatably mounted shaft 44, and a second or linking member 48, which has one end rotatably mounted to the other end of the member 47. The other end of the bell crank, which is the other end of the linking member 48, is rotatably attached to a cam 49 for eccentric motion. The

cam 49 is fixedly attached to the shaft of a motor 50,

shown in dotted lines, and rotates with the motor 50 when the motor is energized.

Thus, when the motor 50 is energized the cam 49 rotates and the bell crank eccentrically attached thereto causes the shaft 44 and the members 47 and 43 to push the connecting members 45 and 41 upwards, thereby moving the carriage 40 upward. As the cam 49 rotates the carriage 40 moves vertically in a reciprocating motion.

FIG. 4 illustrates the relationship of the carriage 40 to the endless belts in the various magazines. The endless belt 22,shown in FIG. 4, is utilized as an example of typical operation and all of the belts 21 through 30 operate in a similar fashion. A pair of shafts 55 and 56 pass through the subcomponent 20 and have the endless belts 21 through 30 mounted thereon for rotation. It will be noted that each of the belts 21 through 30 are provided with opposed guide channels 51 which receive opposite edges of the short legs 37 and knuckles 38 of that portion of the belts 21 through 30 disposed between the shafts 55, 56. With this arrangement the paddles 36 associated with the legs 37 and knuckles 38 received in the channels 51 are maintained in an article supporting, horizontal position. The shafts 55 and 56 are free running and a braking system 60 maintains the endless belts 21 through 30 in the desired position when the merchandise thereon causes them to be nonuniformly weighted. The carriage 40 is utilized to selectively advance the endless belts 21 through 30 and the brake 60 then maintains the belts in the new position. The operation of the carriage 40 and the brake 60 can be seen more clearly in FIG. 6.

Prior to the explanation of the mechanism for selectively connecting the carriage 40 to the various belts 21 through 30 the electrical circuitry shown in FIG. 18 will be described. Each of the magazines 21 through 30 has a selector switch associated therewith. The various se-' lector switches'are located in a row across the frontof the vending machine and a side view thereof can be seen in particular at 61 in FIG. 4. In FIG. 18 only one selector switch, which is a push-button switch designated 61 is.

illustrated but it should be understood that each of the magazines has a switch associated therewith and all of these switches would be connected in parallel with the illustrative switch 61 and the electrical circut would operate exactly the same for each of them.

A stationary contact 62 of selector switch 61 is connected to one side of a solenoid coil 63 by means of a lead 64. The other side of the solenoid coil 63 is connected to one side of a plug 65 :by means of a lead 66. Plug 65 is adapted to be connected to some convenient source of power such as, for example, 115 volts 60 cycle. A movable contact 67 of selector switch 61 is connectedto one contact of an accumulator and price mechanism 68 by means of a lead 69. The accumulator and price mechanism 68 is a standard unit and will not be explained further in this invention except to state that an internal circuit is closed connecting lead 69 to a lead 70 when the correct amount of change is inserted therein. Lead 70 is connected to a fixed contact 71 of a motor hold switch 72. Motor hold switch 72 has a movable contact 73, which is normally in engagement with fixed contact.71,.

in FIG. 2,mounted on the left end of the carriage 40.=

The carriage switch 76 is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6 and the operation thereof will be explained more fully in conjunction with that figure. A movable contact 77 of carriage switch 76 is connected to the other side of plug 65 by a lead 78.

One side of the motor 50 is connected to the lead 66 by means of a lead 80. The other side of the motor 50 is connected to a second fixed contact. 81 of carriage switch 76 by means of a lead 82. Movable contact 77 of carriage switch 76 is normally engaged with the fixed contact i but engages the fixed contact 81 when the carriage switch is operated. A movable contact 83 of a motor cam switch 84 is connected to the lead 82 by means of a lead 85. The movable contact 83 is normally in engagement with a fixed contact 86 which has no connection thereto. I

A second fixed contact 87 of motor hold switch 72 is connected to the lead 82 by means of a lead 88. When the motor 50 is energized the cam 49 rotates and as the cam 49 rotates slightly the switch 72 is operated thereby disengaging the movable arm 73 from the fixed contact 71 and engaging it with the fixed contact 87.

Assuming the machine is in its normal position and the plug 65 is connected to a suitable source of power, once the correct amount of money is inserted in the accumulator and price mechanism 68 the circuit between leads 69 and 70 is closed. The operator then selects the desired unit of merchandise and pushes the associated selector switch. As shown in FIG. .18 when the selector switch 61 is pushed the movable contact 67 engages the fixed contact 62 and a circuit is completed through the solenoid C011 63 by means of the following components in series:

lead 78, movable contact 77, fixed contact 75,: lead 74, movable contact 73, fixed contact 71, lead 70, lead 69,

movable contact 67, fixed contact 62, lead 64, solenoid coil 63 and lead 66. Once the solenoid 63 is energized the solenoid operates and the carriage switch 76 is operated. The operation of the solenoid and the carriage switch can be seen more clearly by referring to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of portions of the magazine 22 taken along the line 66 in FIG. 1 and, as previously explained, all of the magazines 21 through 30 operate in a similar fashion. The solenoid coil 63 is fixedly attached to the lower surface of the upper wall of the carriage 40. A solenoid core 90 is mounted in the coil 63 for vertical movement and has fixedly attached to the lower end thereof a collar 91 which has a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the remainder of the core. A second collar 92 is axially displaced from the collar 91 and has a substantially smaller radius than collar 91. In the normal position of the core 90, when the coil 63 is de-energized, the bottom of the core rests against a portion 93 0f the frame of the carriage 40, which acts as a stop for the core.

A cam block 94 is fixedly mounted to the frame of the carriage 40 and has an exposed surface having a first or normal stop 95, a cam surface 96 and a second stop or dwell area 97 thereon. A fiat plate 98, which extends the length of the carriage 40, has a rod 99 fixedly attached along one edge thereof. The rod 99 passes through a slotshaped opening 100 at either end of the carriage 40 and is bent over on the external sides of the carriage so that the plate 98 is rotatably mounted along its longitudinal axis by the rod 99 and it is maintained in position by the bent over end of the rod 99. In addition the plate 98 and the rod 99 are mounted for limited horizontal movement in the opening 100. The edge of the plate 98, opposite the edge of the plate fixedly attached to the rod 99, normally Tests against the stop 95 on the cam block 94. However, the cam block 94 is so mounted with respect to the solenoid core 90 that when the coil 63 is energized and the core 90 moves vertically upward the collar 91 of the core 90 engages the plate 98 pulling it upward over the cam surface 96 to the dwell area 97.

When the plate 98 is in its normal position against the stop 95, the rod 99 is pushed to the far right edge of the horizontal slot 100, thereby, holding the carriage switch 76 in the normal position, the movable contact 77 in engagement with the stationary contact 75 in FIG. 18. When the solenoid coil 63 is energized and the core 90 moves vertically upward in FIG. 6 the collar 91 pulls the plate 98 into the dwell area 97 and the rod 99 is pulled to the left-hand edge of the slot 100 by springs 101 (seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 7 and 8) operating the carriage switch 76 from its normal position to its operate position, movable contact 77 in engagement with fixed contact 81 in FIG. 18.

The upper wall of the carriage 40 has a hole 102 therein through which the solenoid core 90 protrudes when the coil 63 is energized. A connecting member 103 having an L-shaped cross section is rotatably mounted (a simple example of a mounting means is shown in FIG. 12) so that an arm 104 is horizontal and covers the hole 102 when the coil 63 is de-energized. The other arm 105 is vertical and in juxtaposition to the rear vertical portion of the belt 22. When the correct change is inserted in the accumulator and price mechanism 68 and the selector switch 61 is depressed the solenoid coil 63 is energized and the core 90 moves vertically upward through the hole 102 in the carriage 40'. As the core 90 moves through the hole 102 in the carriage 40 the connecting member 103 is rotated counterclockwise until the arm 105 rests against a link 37 in the endless belt 22, as shown in dotted lines of FIG. 6. A portion of the plate 98, which is pulled into the dwell area 97 of the cam block 94 by the collar 91 engages the smaller collar 92 and holds the core 90 in the energized position even though the button 61 is no longer depressed and the coil 63 is not energized.

As can be seen in FIG. 18 when the carriage switch 76 is operated by the movement of the plate 98 and the rod 99 the movable contact 77 engages the fixed contact 81 and completes a circuit through lead 82, motor 50, lead 80, lead 66, the power source connected to plug 65 and lead 78. Therefore, motor 50 is energized and begins to rotate, rotating cam 49. As previously explained, when cam 49 rotates a reciprocating motion is imposed upon the carriage 40. As the carriage 40 rises vertically the arm 105 of the connecting member 103 bears against the knuckle 38 of the link 35 in the endless belt 22. Thus, as the carriage 40 rises the rear portion of the endless belt 22 is carried with it and the front portion of the belt 22 moves downward.

As the carriage 40 approaches the upper limit of a single reciprocation a pair of blocks numbered 110 and fixedly attached to either side of the case of the subcomponent 20 (seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7) and having a cam-shaped surface directly in the line of movement of the bent over end portions of the rod 99, forces the rod 99 to the right against the carriage switch 76, thereby, placing the carriage switch 76 in its normal position. Thus, the movable contact 77 is in engagement with the fixed contact 75 of the carriage switch 76 and the previous circuit through which the motor 50 was energized is broken. However, since the cam 49 has rotated from its normal position the motor hold switch 72 is in its operate position and the movable con-tact 73 is inengagement with the fixed contact 87 thereby completing an energization circuit for the motor 50 through the following components: lead 78, movable contact 77, fixed contact 75, lead 74, movable contact 73, fixed contact 87, lead 88, motor 50, lead and lead 66. Thus, the motor 50 is still energized and continues to rotate moving the carriage 40 to the upper limit of a single reciprocation.

As the carriage continues to move upward the cam surface of the block 110 forces the bent over portion of the rod 99 into a vertical position, shown in full lines in FIG. 7 and in dotted lines in FIG. 6, thereby forcing the plate 98 into its normal position against the stop on the cam block 94. Once the plate 98 is returned to its normal position it no longer bears against the collar 92 but against collar 91 and the core 90 is moved to its normal position against the stop 93. Since the core. 90 is no longer holding the connecting member 103 in engagement with the endless belt 22 as the carriage 40 reaches its upper limit and starts downward, the arm 105 of the connecting member 103 is not forced against the knuckle 38 and the connecting member 103 drops back into its normal position. After the carriage 40 completes a single reciprocation and the cam 49 completes a full rotation the motor hold switch 72 is returned to the normal position, i.e. movable contact 73 in engagement with fixed contact 71, by the cam action of cam 49 thereby breaking the energization circuit to motor 50 and stopping the motor.

As previously mentioned a braking system 60 is required to maintain the endless belt 22 in the desired position. The braking system 60 can be seen particularly in the upper portion of FIG. 6. A frame 61, fixedly attached to the side of the magazine has a block 62 slidably mounted in an opening therein. The block 62 has one surface constructed so that it engages two links 35 and the associated knuckles 38. In the present embodiment the block 62 is constructed to have a central groove for receiving a knuckle 38 between two links 35 and a groove at the upper and lower end thereof for receiving the knuckles 38 at either end of the links 35. A pair of springs 63 bear against the back side of the block 62 and the front side of the frame 61 to force the block 62 into locking engagement with the rear portion of the endless belt 22. Thus, as the rear portion of the endless belt 22 is forced upward by the carriage 40 the knuckles 38 slide out of the grooves in the block 62 compressing the spring 63 and forcing the block 62 to the right. When the carriage 40 reaches its upper limit of movement the next adjacent knuckle in the endless belt 22 slips into the groove in the block 62 just 7 vacated by the preceding knuckle and the spring 63 forces the block 62 back into locking engagement with the endless belt 22.

A switch 115 is fixedly attached to the frame 61 of the brake system 60 and a lever 116 is rotatably mounted on the frame 61 and biased by a spring 117 to hold the switch 115 in a normal position. A bolt 118 which is threaded into the movable block 62 protrudes through a hole in the frame 61 beneath the lever 116. When the carriage 40 forces the rear portion of the endless belt 22 upward and the block 62 is pushed inward by the knuckles 38 the bolt 118 is also pushed inward forcing the lever 116 away from the switch 115 and allowing the switch 115 to go to the operate position.

In FIG. 18 the switch 115 is schematically shown and consists of a stationary contact 119, a stationary contact. 120, and a movable contact 121 which is in engagement with the stationary contact 120 when the switch 115 is in the normal position. The stationary contact 119 is connected to an accept terminal of a coin escrow mechanism 122 by means of a lead 123. The stationary contact 120 is connected to a return contact of the coin escrow mechanism 122 by a lead 124, the coin escrow mechanism 122 has a further contact connected to the lead 66 by means of a lead 125. The movable contact 121 of the switch 115 is connected to a stationary contact 126 of the motor cam switch 84 by means of a lead 127.

In the electrical operation of this circuitry one side of the coin escrow mechanism 122 is connected to the plug 65 through the leads 66 and 125. The return contact of the coin escrow mechanism 122 is normally connected to the other side of the plug 65 by the following components: lead 124, fixed contact 120, movable contact 121, lead 127, fixed contact 126, movable contact 83 (The motor cam switch 84 is operated by cam 49 simultaneous with the motor hold switch 72.), lead 85, lead 82, lead 88, fixed contact 87, movable contact 73, lead 74, fixed contact 75, movable contact 77 and lead 78. If the carriage 40 fails to advance the endless belt 22 one position the block 62 and the bolt 118 connected thereto are not depressed and the switch 115 remains in the normal position. Thus, the return contact of the coin escrow mechanism 122 remains connected in the circuit and the money is returned. However, if the carriage 40 advances the endless belt 22 one position the block 62 and the bolt 118 of the brake system 60 are depressed moving the lever 116 and allowing the switch 115 to operate. When the switch 115 operates the movable contact 121 engages the fixed contact 119 placing the accept contact of the coin escrow mechanism 122 in the electrical circuit just described. Once the accept contact of the coin escrow mechanism 122 is energized the money drops into a storage container, not shown, and

is not returned. The internal operation of the coinv escrow mechanism 122 will not be discussed further since this is a standard unit and not part of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4 the dispensing means can be seen in the lower left-hand corner. A receiving tray 130 is pivotally mounted at approximately its center for rotation about an axis in the plane of said receiving tray and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said receiving tray. A member 131 fixedly attached to the side of each of the magazines limits the rotation of the member 130 to approximately 90. The receiving tray 130 has a first or normal position in which it slants downward toward the front of the vending machine at an angle of approximately 70 with the front of the vending machine, as shown in FIG. 4. In this position a unit of merchandise has normally slid from the tray, for example 133, on the endless belt and is resting on the receiving tray 130. The receiving tray 130 has a slightly turned up portion so that the unit of merchandise will not slide off. When the receiving tray 130 is in the first position the unit of 8 i merchandise thereon can be viewed externally through a viewing window 132.

As the carriage 40 rotates the endless belt 22 the tray designated 133, for convenience in this explanation, engages the receiving tray and rotates it in a clockwise direction approximately 60. As the carriage 40 continues to move and the endless belt22 continues to rotate the tray 133 moves to the position at which tray 134 is shown and the. unit of merchandise on the receiving tray 130 slides downward oil? the tray into a chute 135 and from there into an external receiving slot 136.: The tray 137 on the endless belt 22 has now moved to the position previously filled by the tray 133 and the unit of merchandise thereon slides 01f onto the receiving tray 130 rotating the receiving tray 130 counterclockwise back to its normal position.

A locking bar 138 mounted beneath the receiving tray 130 prevents the receiving tray 130 from rotating when in its locked position, as shown in FIG. 4. It should be noted that there is a receiving tray and a locking bar associated with each of the magazines 21 through 30 and locking bar 138 associated with receiving tray 130 is typical of the operation of each of these. The locking bar 138 is fixedly attached to a rotatably mounted shaft 139 which passes through the subcomponent 20 and is fixedly attached to one end of a connecting bar 140 at.

143 are rotatably mounted to the sides of the subcomponent 20. When the carriage 40 and the connecting members 41 and 45 are in their normal position the levers 142 and 143 are approximately horizontal, the connecting bars 140 and 141 are approximately vertical and the locking bar 138 for the receiving tray 130 is in the locked position.

A spring 144 which is normally under tension has one end connected to the junction of the connecting bar 140 and the lever 142 and the other end fixedly attached to the case of the subcomponent 20. i A second spring is similarly placed with respectto the connecting bar 141 and the lever 143. As the carriage 40 and its. connecting members 41 and 45 move upward the levers142 and 143 are no longer engaged therewith and the springs 144 and 145 pull the connecting bars 140 and 141 downward into engagement with stops 146 and 147 respectively thereby causing the locking bar 138 to rotate counterclockwise and move out of the locked position. Thus, as the carriage begins to rotate one of the endless belts 21 through 30 the associated locking bar 138 is moved from its locked position of FIG. 4 into a recess 148 formed in the member 131 and the associated receiving tray 130 is allowed to rotate thereby sliding the unit of merchandise thereon into the chute 135 and out to the external receiving slot 136.

In the upper left-hand corner of FIG. 4 a second possible embodiment of the, presentinvention designated gen-i erally with the numeral 150 is utilized for dispensing units of merchandise such as gum or mint rolls. The electrical circuitry of this embodiment is identical with the electrical circuitry previously explained. However, some of the mechanical embodiment is different, in particular the dispensing means, and this will be explained in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 13 through 17.

A plurality ofmagazines'151 through 156, seen in FIGS. 4 and 13, store a vertical stackof the units. of merchandise. Each of the magazines. 151 through 156 has a slidably mounted tray 161 through 166 mounted thereunder. The trays are rectangular shaped having a length approximately the width of the magazine and a depth approximately twice the depth of the magazine. This can be seen more clearly by referring to FIG. 17

where the units of merchandise are seen resting on a solid portion 170 of the tray 161, A second portion 171 of the tray 161 has an opening therethrough which is capable of receiving a single unit of merchandise.

In the basic operation of the magazine 151 through 156 and the trays 161 through 166, referring to FIGS. 4 and 17 for example, the tray 166 is normally situated with the solid portion 170 under the stack of merchandise in the magazine 156, thereby, normally maintaining the vertical stack of merchandise in position. When the machine is actuated by depressing one of the selector switches associated with each of the magazines, for example button 160, the tray 166 is slid to the left, by apparatus to be explained presently, and one unit of merchandise falls into the opening 171. The tray 166 is then slid back to the right, the position shown, and the unit of merchandise falls through the opening in the tray and into the chute 167 from which it slides into a second connecting chute 168 and into the receiving slot 136.

Throughout the following description the electrical components have the same numbers as the previou embodiment with a prime added to denote the different embodiment. A carriage 172 is slidably mounted in a channel like frame 169 by means, such as the plastic buttons 173, and receives a reciprocating motion from the operation of the motor 50, cam 49' and a connecting member 174. Connecting member 174 is pivotally attached to the carriage 172 as shown in the 'broken away portion of FIG. 15. Mounted on the carriage 172 are a plurality of electrical solenoids each of which are associated with a magazine 151 through 156. The action of all of the solenoids can 'be explained by the use of illustrative example in FIG. 17, since all of the solenoids operate identically.

In FIG. 17 a solenoid coil 63' causes a core 175 to move vertically upward when energized. The core 175 'has a collar 176 with a slightly larger diameter fixedly attached to the bottom end thereofwhich normally rests on a protrusion 93 of the carriage wall when the solenoid coil 63' is de-energized. A cam block 177 is fixedly mounted to the frame of the carriage 172 and has an exposed surface having a first or normal stop 178, a cam surface 179 and a second stop or dwell area 180. A locking member or damper 181, having an L-shaped cross section, has opposite ends rotatably mounted in slots 182 one of which is shown in FIG. 17 and further mounted for limited horizontal movement in the slots 182. One arm of the damper 181 is in engagement with the cam block 177 and normally against the stop 178, as shown in FIG. 17. The cam block 177 and damper 181 are further mounted in juxtaposition to the solenoid core 175 so that the collar 176 engage the arm of the damper 181 as the solenoid core 175 moves vertically upward, thereby, pulling the arm from the stop 178 across the cam surface 179 to the dwell area 180. The damper 181-has a pair of springs 183 that maintain it in the dwell area 180 once the collar 176 moves it there. The damper 181 has areas which bear against a groove in the core 175 to maintain it in its vertically upward position a long as the damper 181 remains in the dwell area 180. One end of the rod mounting the damper 181 engages a carriage switch 76' when the damper 181 moves into the dwell area 180. The carriage switch 76 performs the same functions that the carriage switch 76 in the first embodiment performed except that for convenience of mounting the operation is reversed and therefore the electrical connections would have to "be reversed.

When the solenoid core 175 moves vertically upward it protrudes through a hole in the top of the carriage 172 and causes a connecting member 185 having a Z- shaped cross section, which is rotatably mounted on the carriage 172, to rotate counterclockwise as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 14.

A bell crank 187 is mounted below the tray 161 for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the tray 161. A boss 186 on bell crank 187 is located for engagement with connecting member 185 when it is rotated counterclockwise to its operate position. Refearing to FIG. 16, bell crank 187 is rotatably mounted by means of a shaft 188 which passes through a hole in a second boss 189. Boss 189 has a torsion spring 190 thereon one end of which bears against a portion of the machine and the other end of which bears against the boss 186 imparting a normally clockwise bias to hell crank 187. Bell crank 187 has a shaft or boss 191 which protrudes through an arcuate slot 192 in the other side of the frame or the machine 150 and slidably engages a slot 193 in the underside of the tray 161. The spring 190 normally holds the bell crank 187 in the far clockwise position. The solid portion of the tray 161 is under the stack of merchandise in the magazine 151 when the bell crank 187 is in it normal position.

When the connecting member 185 is rotated counterclockwise and the carriage 172 is moved horizontally to the right in FIG. 14 the connecting member 185 engages the boss 186 on bell crank 187 thereby rotating bell crank 187 counterclockwise in FIG. 16. The counterclockwise rotation of hell crank 187 causes the tray 161 to move to a position wherein when the carriage 172 has completed one-half of a single reciprocation the open portion 171 of the tray 161 has moved under the stack of merchandise and one unit has dropped into said portion.

The carriage 172 has thereon a U-shaped rod 195, the bight of which runs the length of the carriage 172 and which is rotatably mounted by means of pivots 196 located approximately centrally in either leg. The U- shaped rod 195 engages a pair of cam-shaped members 197, fixedly mounted to the frame of the machine 150, with the ends of both its arms when the carriage 172 is in the extreme right hand position in FIG. 14. The U-shaped member 195 is mounted so that its bight engages the arm of the damper 181 not engaged with the cam block 177. When the damper 181 is rotated by the upward movement of the solenoid core the U-shaped member 195 is rotated clockwise to the vertical position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 17.

When the carriage moves approximately one-half a reciprocation the ends of the U-shaped member 195 engage the cams 197, the U-shaped member 195 is rotated counterclockwise to its normal full line position of FIG. 17 and the damper 181 is moved from the dwell area across the cam surface 179 to the normal stop 178. Since the damper 181 is moved from engagement with the solenoid core 175 into engagement with collar 176 the solenoid core is forced to drop vertically to its normal position against the protruding portion 93' of the frame 169. The U-shaped member 195 is shown in its normal position in full lines in FIG. 17.

When the solenoid core 175 drops back to its normal position the connecting member is allowed to rotate clockwise back to its normal position and disengage the boss 186 on the bell crank 187. The bell crank 187 is then rotated clockwise .back to its normal position by the spring and the tray 161 is moved upward in FIG. 16 or to the right in FIG. 17 to the position shown. The unit of merchandise in the open portion 171 :of tray 161 then drops through the opening i-nto'the chute 167 and slides down through the connecting chute 168, to the exterior receiving slot 136.

A member 200 having a protruding portion thereon 201 which engages with the boss .186 on the bell crank 187 and similar protruding portions to engage with each of the other bell cranks associated with each of the magazines 152 through 156, is slidably mounted for horizontal travel and normally biased by a spring 202 to the right-hand position in FIG. 16. As one of the bell cranks is rotated counterclockwise by its associated connecting member and the carriage 172, the boss 186 pushes the protruding member 201 and, consequently, the member 200 to the left in FIG. 16. The extreme left end of the member 200 has a cam surface thereon 203 with the actuating portion of a switch 115" engaged therewith. As the member 200 is forced to the left the actuating portion of switch 115' is moved by the cam surface 203 causing the switch to be closed. Switch 115' serves the same function in the schematic diagram of FIG. 18 as switch 115. Thus, as member 200 slides to the left. and the cam surface 203 causes switch 115' to be closed the accept circuit in the coin escrew mechanism 122 is energized and the coin drops into a storage chamber.

Thus, an electrical vending machine has been described which operates under a uniform impetus and therefore has a minimum of wear and mechanical interferences while having .a maximum reliability. In addition the present invention has a minimum of moving parts and is there fore simple to construct and maintain.

While I have shown and described twospecific embodiments of this invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular form shown and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A vending machine comprising:

(a) a plurality of magazines for storing units to be selectively dispensed, each magazine, including an endless belt having a plurality of trays uniformly spaced thereon and rigidly mounted perpendicular thereto;

(b) motive means;

(c) a carriage mounted for reciprocating motion in the direction of movement of an adjacent portion of each of said endless belts and opera-tively connected to said motive means for executing a single reciprocation upon said motive means being energized; I

(cl) means mounted on said carriage including a plurality of connecting members one each engageable with said portion of one of said endless belt and selectively connecting said carriage to a selected one of said endless belts for advancing said selected endless belt to a new position during each reciprocation of said carriage;

(e) an electric switch associated with each of said magazines for selecting the desired unit to be dispensed; and

(f) electrical means adapted to be connected to a source of power and operatively connecting said switches, said motive means, and said connecting means in circuit for energizing said motive means and one, of said connecting .means when said associated switch is closed, whereby said motive means advances said selected endless belt to a new position.

2., A vending machine comprising:

(a) a plurality of magazines for storing units to be selectively dispensed, each magazine including an endless belt having a plurality of trays uniformly spaced thereon and rigidly mounted perpendicular thereto;

(b) motive means;

(c) a carriage mounted for reciprocating motion and operatively connected to said motive means for executing a single reciprocation upon said motive means being energized;

(d) means associated with each endless belt selectively connecting said carriage to said associated endless belt for advancing said associated endless belt to a new position during each reciprocation of said carriage including an L-shaped member mounted on said carriage in juxtaposition to said associated endless =belt normally in .a first position and having a second position in which an arm is in engagement with said associated belt and an electrical solenoid operatively connected to said L-shaped member for moving said member to said second position upon energization of said solenoid;

(e) an electric switch associated with each of said magazines for selecting the desired unitto be dispensed; and

(f) electrical means adapted to be connected to a source of power and operatively connecting said switches, said motive means, and said connecting means in circuit for energizing said motive means and one of said solenoids of said connecting means when said associated switch is closed,.whereby said motive means advances said associated endless belt to a new position.

3. A vending machine comprising:

(a) a plurality of magazines for storing units to be selectively dispensed, each magazine, including an endless belt having a plurality of. trays uniformly spaced thereon and rigidly mounted perpendicular thereto;

(b) motive means;

(c) a carriage mounted for reciprocating motion and operatively connected to said motive means. for executing a single reciprocation upon said motive means being energized;

(d) means associated with each endless belt selectively connecting said carriage to said associated endless belt for advancing said associated endless belt to a new position during each reciprocation of said carriage including (1) an L-shaped member mounted on'said carriage in juxtaposition to said associated endless belt normally in a first position and. having a second position in which-an arm is in engagement with said associated belt,

(2) an electrical solenoid operatively connected to said L-shaped member for moving said memher to said second position upon energization of said solenoid, and

(3) damping means operatively connected to said solenoid and said carriage for maintaining said solenoid in the operate position and said .L- shaped member in the second position for approximately one-half a single reciprocation of said carriage;

(e) an electric switch associated with each of said magazines for selecting the desired unit to be dispensed; and

(f) electrical means adapted to be connected to a source of power and operatively connecting said switches, said motive means, and said connecting means in circuit for energizing said motive means and one of said solenoids of said connecting means when said associated switch is closed, whereby said motive means advances said associated endless belt to a new position.

4. A vending machine comprising:

(a) a plurality of magazines for storing units to be selectively dispensed, each magazine including an endless belt having a plurality of trays uniformly spaced thereon and rigidly mounted perpendicular thereto;

(b) motive means for selectively advancing said endless belts one position;

(c) a receiving tray, associated with'each of said magazines, pivotally mounted at approximately the center of said receiving tray for rotation about an axis parallel to the plane of said receiving tray and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said receiving tray and further mounted for engagement with an i3 adjacent one of the trays attached to said endless belt when said endless belt is advanced one position;

(d) means limiting the rotation of each of said receiving trays to a first and a second position;

(e) locking means mounted in juxtaposition to said receiving trays and operable with said motive means for locking said receiving trays in said first position and allowing said receiving trays to rotate to said second position when said associated endless belt is advanced one position; 7

(f) an external unit receiving slot and attached chutes mounted in receiving relationship to each of said receiving trays for receiving a unit from said receiving tray when said endless belt is advanced one position and an adjacent one of the trays attached to said endless belt engages said receiving tray rotating said receiving tray to its second position, a second unit subsequently dropping oii the next adjacent tray onto said receiving tray and returning said receiving tray to its first position.

5. A vending machine comprising:

(a) a plurality of magazines for storing units to be selectively dispensed, each magazine including an endless belt having a plurality of trays uniformly spaced thereon and rigidly mounted perpendicular thereto;

(b) motive means for selectively advancing said endless belts one position;

(c) a receiving tray, associated with each of said magazines, pivotally mounted at approximately the center of said receiving tray for rotation about an axis parallel to the plane of said receiving tray and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said receiving tray and further mounted for engagement with an adjacent one of the trays attached to said endless belt when said endless belt is advanced one position;

(d) means limiting the rotation of each of said receiving trays to a first and a second position;

(e) locking means mounted in juxtaposition to said receiving trays and operable with said motive means for locking said receiving trays in said first position and allowing said receiving trays to rotate to said second position when said associated endless belt is advanced one position;

(i) means for externally viewing at least a portion of said receiving trays when said receiving trays are in said first position; and

(g) an external unit receiving slot and attached chutes mounted in receiving relationship to each of said receiving trays for receiving a unit from said receiving tray when said endless belt is advanced one position and an adjacent one of the trays attached to said endless belt engages said receiving tray rotating said receiving tray to its second position, a second unit subsequently dropping ofi the next adjacent tray onto said receiving tray and returning said receiving tray to its first position.

6. A vending machine comprising:

(a) a plurality of magazines for storing units to be selectively dispensed, each magazine including an endless belt having a plurality of trays uniformly spaced thereon and rigidly mounted perpendicular thereto;

(b) motive means;

(c) a carriage mounted for reciprocating motion and operatively connected to said motive means for executing a single reciprocation upon said motive means being energized;

(d) means mounted on said carriage and associated with each endless belt selectively connecting said carriage to said associated endless belt for advancing said associated belt to a new position during each reciprocation of said carriage;

(e) an electric switch associated with each of said 14 magazines for selecting the desired unit to be dispensed;

(f) electrical means adapted to be connected to a source of power and operatively connecting said switches, said motive means, and said connecting means in circuit forenergizing said motive means and one of said connecting means when said associated switch is closed, whereby said motive means advances said associated endless belt to a new position;

(g) a receiving tray, associated with each of said magazines, pivotally mounted at approximately the center of said receiving tray for rotation about an axis parallel to the plane of said receiving tray and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said receiving tray and further mounted for engagement with an adjacent one of the trays attached to said endless belt when said endless belt is advanced one position;

(h) means limiting the rotation of each of said receiving trays to a first and a second position;

(i) locking means mounted in juxtaposition to said receiving trays and operable with said motive means for locking said receiving trays in said first position and allowing said receiving trays to rotate to said second position when said associated endless belt is advanced one position;

(j) means for externally viewing at least a portion of said receiving trays when said receiving trays are in said first position; and

(k) an external unit receiving slot and attached chutes mounted in receiving relationship to each of said receiving trays for receiving a unit from said receiving tray when said endless belt is advanced one position and an adjacent one of the trays attached to said endless belt engages said receiving tray rotating said receiving tray to its second position, a second nnit subsequently dropping oif the next adjacent tray onto said receiving tray and returning said receiving tray to its first position.

7. A vending machine comprising:

(a) a plurality of magazines for storing units to be selectively dispensed, each magazine including an endless belt having a plurality of trays uniformly spaced thereon and rigidly mounted perpendicular thereto;

(b) motive means for selectively advancing said endless belts one position;

(c) a receiving tray, associated with each of said magazines, pivotally mounted at approximately the center of said receiving tray for rotation about an axis parallel to the plane of said receiving tray and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said receiving tray and further mounted for engagement with an adjacent one of the trays attached to said endless belt when said endless belt is advanced one position;

(d) means limiting the rotation of each of said receiving trays to a first and a second position; and

(e) an external unit receiving slot and attached chutes mounted in receiving relationship to each of said receiving trays for receiving a unit from said receiving tray when said endless belt is advanced one position and an adjacent one of the trays attached to said endless belt engages said receiving tray rotating said receiving tray to its second position, a second unit subsequently dropping off the next adjacent tray onto said receiving tray and returning said receiving tray to its first position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1896 Pullius et a1 221271 X (References on following page) 15, UNITED STATES PATENTS Wallin 19410 Gabrielsen 2216 Gross 221125 X 5 Obourn 221129 Thompson 22177 Genser et a1. 221,-126 Eckenbach 221129 X 16 3,164,296 1/ 1965 Barnhart ,221-129 3,194,432 7/1965 Breitenstein et a1. 221-82 OTHER REFERENCES 1,077,466, German application of Stolter, printed Mar. 10, 1960 (K. 43B 23).

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. KENNETH N. LEIMER, Examiner. 

1. A VENDING MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF MAGAZINES FOR STORING UNITS TO BE SELECTIVELY DISPENSED, EACH MAGAZINE INCLUDING AN ENDLESS BELT HAVING A PLURALITY OF TRAYS UNIFORMLY SPACED THEREON AND RIGIDLY MOUNTED PERPENDICULAR THERETO; (B) MOTIVE MEANS; (C) A CARRIAGE MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCATING MOTION IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF AN ADJACENT PORTION OF EACH OF SAID ENDLESS BELTS AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MOTIVE MEANS FOR EXECUTING A SINGLE RECIPROCATION UPON SAID MOTIVE MEANS BEING ENERGIZED; (D) MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CONNECTING MEMBERS ONE EACH ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID PORTION OF ONE OF SAID ENDLESS BELT AND SELECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID CARRIAGE TO A SELECTED ONE OF SAID ENDLESS BELTS FOR ADVANCING SAID SELECTED ENDLESS BELT TO A NEW POSITION DURING EACH RECIPROCATION OF SAID CARRIAGE; (E) AN ELECTRIC SWITCH ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID MAGAZINES SWITCH ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID PENSED; AND (F) ELECTRICAL MEANS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF POWER AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID SWITCHES, SAID MOTIVE MEANS, AND SAID CONNECTING MEANS IN CIRCUIT FOR ENERGIZING SAID MOTIVE MEANS AND ONE OF SAID CONNECTING MEANS WHEN SAID ASSOCIATED SWITCH IS CLOSED, WHEREBY SAID MOTIVE MEANS ADVANCES SAID SELECTED ENDLESS BELT LTO A NEW POSITION. 